Orlando Magic

The Magic are in a rebuilding mode, and as their 9-20 record will tell you, that means that wins have been hard to come by this season. But a bright spot has been the play of Arron Afflalo, who has been consistently putting up big numbers — he’s posted his career high of 43 points…

Hedo Turkoglu probably isn’t on anyone’s radar outside of Orlando, mainly because he hasn’t played a game for the Magic or been around the team in any capacity at all since the season began. Turkoglu isn’t a part of the team’s future plans, so they essentially told him to get lost — while being paid,…

Oklahoma City almost took over the top spot in the rankings, until they laid an egg Sunday night. The Blazers hold on for another week, but they didn’t look elite last week even in their wins and this week sees a few big tests. 1. Trail Blazers (23-5, Last Week No. 1). If the…

The Jazz won an ugly one against a Magic team playing without Arron Afflalo on Wednesday, and Trey Burke thoroughly outplayed fellow rookie Victor Oladipo in the process. Burke finished with a career high 30 points, while Oladipo managed just three on 1-of-12 shooting in 36 minutes of action. But Orlando likes Oladipo for his…

The Signature Series takes a look at a play that’s largely unique to one team. Here’s Golden State’s Elevator screen play: The “Elevator” screen is one of the most aesthetically pleasing plays you’ll see in the league, particularly when it’s run by Golden State. That’s in large part because any possession that ends in a…

Over the next few days in this space, we’ll break down a play that’s largely unique to one team. To kick off this signature series, we’ll start with the Los Angeles Clippers’ “Ring-Around-The-Rosie” screen. Innovation in the NBA is often about adding little wrinkles to something very simple. There are no “Wildcat” offenses that take…

There is no movement at the top of the standings as the top five teams went 15-1 last week (and that one loss was to another top 5 team). However, get past that five and you get into teams like the Rockets, Suns and others where trades could really change rankings as we move toward…

Glen Davis acted like a hockey player Sunday night. He has missed a lot of time and worked hard to get back on the court following a couple of foot surgeries — he’s not going to let a little injury keep him from going now. A little injury like a dislocated shoulder, one he got…

In Eric Bledsoe’s final game with the Los Angeles Clippers last season, he played nine minutes and 28 seconds. In that game, the Memphis Grizzlies scored 118 points despite possessing what most would consider a below-average offense. Mike Conley, a player Bledsoe has routinely shut down throughout his career, went to the free throw line…

Near the very end of the Cavaliers’ win over the Magic on Friday, Orlando’s Andrew Nicholson was called for a flagrant two foul that resulted in an automatic ejection for shoving Anderson Varejao to the floor. Apparently Nicholson didn’t appreciate the fact that Varejao scored the meaningless basket with the Cavs up six and just…

Glen Davis, even down to the lowest weight of his career, is big. After games, he’s big and sweaty. So, FOX Sports Florida’s Dante Marchitelli faced quite the challenge of staying focused during this, literally, touching interview. That man deserves a raise! Marchitelli, not Davis. Davis is paid just fine, and at least it’s his…

The Knicks rolled the Magic 121-83 on Friday to earn a much-needed second straight victory, but Orlando rookie Victor Oladipo came up with at least one play that was worthy of the highlight reel. As Carmelo Anthony drives the lane for what looks to be a certain slam, Oladipo rises up and rejects him at…

Apparently Glen Davis was a big child. Very big. Big Baby just returned to the lineup for the first time since last January, when he broke a bone in his foot that took two surgeries to repair properly. He’s looked pretty good since coming back — he had 33 points in the game against Philadelphia…

The night before Paul George did the same thing for the Pacers, this time it was Arron Afflalo — scoring 43 points in a losing effort. Afflalo was overshadowed by the two rookies notching triple-doubles (Michael Carter-Williams, Victor Oladipo) but this was a career high for the former UCLA star. He had 14 in the…

NEW YORK — If it was a fight, they would have stopped it. To say the Nuggets beat the Nets on Tuesday to earn their seventh straight win wouldn’t at all be an accurate description of how Denver came out and destroyed Brooklyn in the third quarter, and then continued the assault against a depleted and…

If you were busy exploring our galaxy online and not watching hoops Monday then you missed the first time in NBA history that two rookies recorded triple-doubles in the same game. We’re here to help you out with our nightly grades from around the league. Michael Carter Williams, Philadelphia 76ers. The early leader in the…

Believe it or not, we’re nearly at the quarter mark of the NBA season already. That means it’s time to start believing a little more in what we’ve seen so far, and maybe even time to dish out a few awards. Remember, these aren’t predictions for what will happen at the end of the season.…

The Eastern Conference has two elite teams — Indiana and Miami — and they are on top of the PBT Power Rankings for this week. Then you don’t see another team from the East until No. 12, which speaks to the depth of the West and the drop off after the East elite. 1.…

Every year on the game before Thanksgiving, the Orlando Magic have their stars of the game carve a turkey as part of the post game television interview… yes, it’s a little strange, but if John Madden can give out odd numbers of Turkey legs on Thanksgiving, the Magic can have players carve a bird. Although I’m…

NEW YORK – The Nets fell to 4-11 on the season after an early blowout ended up becoming a heartbreaker before the final buzzer sounded. But the vibe around the team is good despite the rough start, because some of the key players believe that the recent effort shown has the beginnings of trending things…

We’re feeling generous so no bad grades out of of action in the NBA on Thanksgiving eve. Here are our grades for the nigh from games you might have missed while trying to smell like DeAndre Jordan… Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns. Portland had an 11-game win streak thanks to their offense, but the Blazers defense…

Here’s a quick swing through the NBA for a Tuesday night, or you missed while seeing how far you could launch a pumpkin… John Wall, Washington Wizards. No Bradley Beal so they need big games from him and they got it Tuesday in a win over a Lakers team that had been playing good defense…

The top of our rankings remain solid this week, but after a bad weekend of injuries there were a few shakeups farther down with more to come. 1. Spurs (12-1, Last Week No. 1). They are the winners of 10 in a row and are doing it with great defense, good offense, not much Tim…

LOS ANGELES — Six games ago, a frustrated Mike D’Antoni decided to shake up the rotation of his struggling 3-5 Lakers: Chris Kaman was out of the starting lineup, Jordan Hill was in; Nick Young became a sixth man and Wesley Johnson became the starting three; and with Steve Nash out Jodie Meeks became Steve…

We know you were busy Sunday night trying out the new Cinnabon vodka (why does that exist?) so we kept our eye on the NBA for you and are bringing you some grades. Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter. Brooklyn was up 7 over Detroit… then the third quarter happened. Again. Sunday the Nets shot…